Maldon-Dombarton line could speed passenger rail

Rail and logistics expert Professor Philip Laird believes building the Maldon-Dombarton line would take trains off CityRail’s South Coast line and allow extra passenger services to run between the morning and afternoon peaks.

‘‘We move about eight million tonnes of coal a year to Port Kembla at night and between the morning and afternoon peaks [on the South Coast line],’’ he said.

‘‘Some of this has to move during the day which means it is difficult to find extra train paths for more passenger services.’’

Wollongong to Sydney services run on an hourly timetable between the morning and afternoon peaks.

Prof Laird said that without freight on the line, CityRail could run a timetable resembling its Sydney to Gosford schedule.

CityRail runs double the number of trains between Sydney and Gosford between peak periods, with services every half hour.

‘‘The goal ultimately is to get a service looking more like Sydney-Gosford, where there are not only twice as many trains between the am-pm peaks but they are faster as well,’’ he said.

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A Transport for NSW spokesman said there were about 350 freight services on the RailCorp network a week, but did not specify the proportion on the South Coast line.

He said the Government was considering investigating the issue as part of a long-term review of rail services.

‘‘The movement of both passengers and freight is important for social and economic development of the region,’’ he said.

‘‘It is estimated that one freight train can take up to 150 trucks off the road.’’

The transport department is holding forums to create a long-term master plan for the area. A meeting will be held in Wollongong on April 17. For details visit: transportmasterplan.nsw.gov.au.